Valve handle adaptor kit

ABSTRACT

A valve handle adaptor formed on one end with a shank configured for complemental telescopical receipt in a pocket formed in a valve handle and formed on its opposite extremity with an adaptor socket. A plurality of extenders, each formed on one end for receipt within such adapator socket and formed on the opposite end with an extender socket capable of receiving the shank of another extender or, in the alternative, a spud. A plurality of spuds are formed with external configurations for complemental receipt in the spud socket, adaptor socket or extender socket. The handle may be mounted directly from a valve stem through such spud, or through the adaptor by inserting the shank in the spud socket and a spud in the adaptor socket for receipt over a broach formed in the end of the valve stem, or through any number of extenders fitted between the adaptor and spud. The kit can therefore adapt a handle to a wide variety of broach sizes and offset distances.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application,Ser. No. 07/167,502, filed 3/14/88, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,945.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to a device for adapting a valve handlefor mounting from selected ones of different valve stems which projectdifferent distances from the front surfaces of respective walls behindwhich the valve plumbing is disposed.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

Valves of the type utilized to control water flow to shower heads andtub faucet spouts are typically housed in valve bodies disposed behindthe shower wall, the extremity of the stem projecting a distance fromthe front surface of the wall determined by the location of the plumbingrelative to the wall, the length of the valve stem and the overall wallthickness, including any tile or covering on such wall. There have beenestablished no generally accepted set of standards in the plumbingindustry for setting the length or configuration of valve stems, thedistance valve stems project from the wall upon installation or even theconfiguration of the broach at the end of the valve stem. Thus, when avalve stem or valve itself becomes damaged necessitating replacementthereof, it is not unusual that the local plumbing store does not stockthe particular style of stem incorporated in the original valve. This isparticularly true for older plumbing wherein the manufacturer may havediscontinued production or totally changed its design. Likewise, thereare no generally accepted standards for handle configuration thusfrequently requiring the handle and stem to be replaced as a unit inorder to mate the handle with the new stem. This then often leads to thereplacement of both the hot and cold handles such that the resultantinstallation will exhibit handles of the same design to thus present anaesthetically pleasing appearance.

Thus, there exists a need for a faucet adaptor which will adapt a handlefor mounting on valve stems of various configurations and which willaccommodate stems which are installed with various different degrees ofprojection and which will present an aesthetic appearance uponinstallation.

Various efforts have been made to solve these problems in the past. Onesuch effort led to the proposal of an escutcheon for surrounding thebonnet of a valve projecting through the wall and formed on its freeextremity with a hexagonal socket for receipt of a complementally formedboss included in a tube intended for mounting to project in onedirection or the other from the extremity of the escutcheon. The sleeveis internally threaded for screwing onto the valve nipple. A device ofthis type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,376,888 to Anthony. Devices ofthis type, while satisfactory for their intended purpose, suffer theshortcoming that their adaptation to various installations is extremelylimited. That is, different shroud tubes must be stocked for eachparticular size of valve nipple and the construction of the tube andescutcheon is relatively complex and thus expensive to manufacture.

Other efforts have led to the proposal of a plurality of stem extensionsconstructed of different lengths and configurations. These extenders areformed on one end with a boss defining a broach socket for receipt overthe broach at the end of a valve stem and formed on their opposite endswith a broach for direct receipt in the broach socket of a handle. Adevice of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,582,116 to Young. Suchextenders, while satisfactory for limited usage, suffer the shortcomingthat they only have limited application, and are typically dedicated tothe design of a specific manufacturer, thus requiring stocking of stemextenders of numerous different socket configurations and lengths inorder to accommodate various configurations of installation. It hasproven relatively impractical for a retailer to stock a sufficientsupply of the numerous various configurations to make use practical.Also, the expense of manufacturing and stocking a full set of extendersis considerable. Furthermore, a do-it-yourselfer visiting his localretailer is faced with the problem of endeavoring to select the specificlength and configuration of adpator for his particular installation andwith the dilemma that failure to purchase a sufficient number ofconfigurations of extenders to enable a realistic trial and errorinstallation will typically lead to another trip to the plumbing storeto purchase further configurations or, at least, to return thoseparticular extenders which his trial and error efforts proved wereunsatisfactory for the installation.

Other efforts have led to the proposal that specially designed faucethandles be formed on their interior with hexagonal sockets for receiptof respective hexagonal nuts formed on the respective one ends ofrespective differently sized and configured adaptors. A device of thistype is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,673 to Bondar. Such a device, whileproviding adaptation of a handle of special design to variousinstallations, suffers the shortcoming of failing to provide foraccommodation of handles of conventional design and in requiringstocking of a great number of relatively expensive adaptors in order toaccommodate the large variety of stems and handles currently on themarket and in use in the field.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a faucet handleadaptor kit which is configured for use with conventional handle andwhich is itself adaptable to mounting on valve stem broaches of numerousdifferent configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The valve handle adaptor kit of the present invention is characterizedby an elongated adaptor, one or more interfitting extenders and a set ofspuds. Each spud is configured to receive a particular size and type ofvalve stem, the interfitting extenders are configured to receive a spudand for receipt within another extender, or alternatively, within theelongated adaptor, while the elongated adaptor is configured to receiveboth a spud or an extender and for receipt within a socket formed in aconventional faucet handle. A particular valve stem can therefore beextended to numerous difference distances depending upon the number ofinterfitting extenders used and adapted to a faucet handle.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromconsideration of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a faucet handle and escutcheonassembly incorporating the handle adaptor kit of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the faucet handle, handleadaptor kit and escutcheon of FIG. 1 in an assembled state and inenlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the faucet and escutcheonassembly of FIG. 2 incorporating a part of the adaptor kit; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view in enlarged scale of spuds which may beutilized in the faucet adaptor kit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the faucet adaptor kit of the presentinvention includes an adaptor, generally designated 11, formed on oneend with a shank 13 which is square in cross section for selectivereceipt in a square open-ended pocket 15 formed in a handle, generallydesignated 17. The opposite end of the adaptor 11 is enlarged in crosssection and is formed with an axially opening adaptor socket 21 (FIGS. 2and 3) for selective receipt of either one of the conventional spuds23--23', each of which have different sized broach sockets 25--25' or ofan extender 12. The kit includes one or more extenders 12 each formed onone end with an extender shank for receipt within the adpator socket 21.The opposite end of the extender 12 is formed with an axially openingextender socket 16 (FIG. 2) for selective receipt of either one of theconventional spuds 23--23' or the extender shank 14 of another extender12.

In the plumbing industry it is common practice to mount the plumbing fora valve, such as a shower valve, behind a wall 31 or 33 and to thenproject a valve stem 35 or 37 (FIGS. 2 and 3) through a respectiveopening 39 or 41 in the wall for receipt of a handle 17. The stem istypically rotated by the handle 17 to advance and retract the stemrelative to the valve body (not shown) to thus open and close the valveitself. Typically, the valve stems project from the front surface of thewalls 31 or 33 a distance dictated by the location of the plumbingrelative to the wall itself and the thickness of the wall. Additionally,such stems are often made by numerous different manufacturers and, therebeing no industry standard, are frequently of different sizes and areformed on their projecting ends with splined broaches 45 and 47 whichmay be of different diameters.

Conventional plumbing fixtures also typically incorporate escutcheonssomewhat similar to the escutcheon, generally designated 51, but whichthread onto the bonnet (not shown) of the valve to thus provide a shroudover the stem 35 or 37 to conceal the stem from view and thus enhancethe aesthetic appearance of the plumbing fixture. The problem attendantthe replacement of the escutcheons which may be of numerous differentsizes and configurations is addressed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,788, sowill not be repeated here. However, there still exists the problem thatwhen a valve stem is to be replaced and a new handle is required or anew handle is to be substituted for an existing handle, the fit of thehandle relative to the valve stem and escutcheon poses a particularproblem. That is, the handle must be mounted on a stem which spaces it asufficient distance axially outwardly from the wall 31 or 33 toaccommodate the length of escutcheon employed while providing fullshrouding of the stem and accommodating full axial travel of such stemfor full opening and closure of the valve. My invention involves arelatively inexpensive and straightforward apparatus for achieving thisresult.

Handle 17 is of a generally conventional construction incorporating aperipheral cylindrically shaped skirt 57 which flares outwardly in afrusto conical manner. Such handle includes a central axially extendingcylindrical boss 59 formed medially with a transverse wall 61 and formedon the distal side of such wall with a square in cross sectionspud-receiving handle pocket 15. The medial wall 61 has a bore 69 formedtherein for receipt of a fastening screw 71.

The kit of the present invention includes a plurality of spuds 23--23'having uniform square cross sections, each formed with respectivesplined bores or sockets 25--25' having different internal diameters foraccommodating different diameter broaches 45 and 47. The respectivespuds are formed at the blind ends of their respective sockets 25--25'with through bores 62.

The escutcheon 51 is fully described in my U.S. patent mentionedhereinabove so will be only described herein in a general context. Theescutcheon 51 is formed with a main cylindrical barrel 75 which servesto shroud the main portion of the stem 35 or 37 and then flaresoutwardly to form an enlarged in diameter base 77 which is threaded onits interior surface at 79 for screwing onto a mounting ring 81 which isbonded onto the wall 31 or 33 by means of a bonding ring 85.

The adaptor 11 is preferably constructed of hard plastic, such as thatsold under the name Delrin, Celcon or Lexan, and may be on the order of1 1/2" to 2" long. In some instances, kits may be provided withdifferent length adaptors 11. The shank 13 is formed with a squareexterior cross section of a size which telescopically slip fits into thespud socket 65 of a handle 17. The adaptor 11 is formed with an axialfastener bore 91 for telescopical receipt of a fastener screw 71 or 93.

The extenders 12 are preferably constructed of a similar hard plastic.The shank 14 is formed with a square exterior cross section of a sizewhich telescopically slip fits into both the adaptor socket 21 or theextender socket 16 of another extender 12. The extender socket isconfigured to receive both another extender shank 14 or a spud 23.

Stems 35 and 37 are typically formed with broaches having fairlystandard sized threaded fastening bores 97 or 99 for receipt offastening screws comparable to the fastening screws 71 or 93.

In practice a faucet adaptor kit typically incorporates a handle 17, atleast a pair of fastening screws 71 and 93 of different lengths, theadaptor 11, one or more extenders 12, and possibly on the order of 12spuds 23--23' having the spud sockets 25--25' of various differentsizes.

Thus, a do-it-yourselfer or professional plumber preparing to install anew handle 17 or a new stem 35 or 37, which will require a new handle,may select an adaptor handle kit, remove the old handle and, ifnecessary, replace the valve stem. The adaptor kit may be utilized witha conventional escutcheon or the particular escutcheon 51 describedherein. With the escutcheon 51, the old escutcheon may be removed anddiscarded. The escutcheon 51 may be easily installed by bonding themounting ring 81 to the wall 31 or 33 in concentric relationship aboutthe respective stem 35 or 37. The escutcheon 51 may then be screwed ontothe mounting ring 81 to mount the escutcheon from the wall 31 or 33.

It will be appreciated that for valve stems arranged in positions toproject a relatively great distance from the wall there is sufficientreach in the stem itself to accommodate mounting of the faucet handle 17directly thereto. In these instances, a spud 23--23' may be selectedhaving the splined bore 25--25' corresponding with the configuration ofthe broach 45 and inserted into the pocket 15 of the handle 17. Thehandle may then be positioned on the broach 45 by telescoping the spud23 over such broach and using a relatively short fastening screwinserted through the bore 69 and 62 to fasten the handle 17 in place onthe valve stem. A cover plate 94 may then be snapped into coveringposition over the screw head and the handle 17 is then ready forrotation of the stem in operation of the valve (not shown).

For other configurations wherein the stem 35 projects an intermediatedistance from the front surface of the wall 31, it will be appreciatedthat there is insufficient reach to enable the valve handle 17 to bemounted directly thereto while providing for full axial travel of thestem. In this instance (see FIG. 2), the adaptor 11 is selected and itsshank 13 inserted into the pocket 15 and a spud 23' selected with asplined bore 25' having a configuration for receipt of the broach 47. Alonger fastening screw 71 may then be inserted through the bore 69 andtelescoped through the bore 91 of the adaptor to be threaded into thethreaded fastening bore 99 of the broach 45 to secure the handle 17 inposition mounted on the valve stem 35.

For other configurations wherein the stem 37 projects only a shortdistance from the front surface of the wall 33 (see FIG. 3) or evenfails to project flush thereto, it will be appreciated that a furtherextension is required. In this instance a sufficient number of extenders12 are selected to effectively extend the stem by their insertionbetween the adaptor socket 21 and spud 23. A fastening screw ofsufficient length 93 is then inserted through the bores of the entireassemblage into the threaded fastening bore 99 of the broach 47 tosecure handle 17 on the valve stem 37 kit.

It will be appreciated that with the described kit, there are a greatnumber of combinations of adaptor 11, extenders 12 and spuds 23--23'which may be assembled to accommodate a great number of stemconfigurations and orientations. In fact, the spuds 23--23' andextenders may be constructed of relatively inexpensive plastic costingon the order of just several pennies apiece, thus making it practicalto, after the handle 17 has been installed, discard the remaining unuseditems. This arrangement eliminates the necessity of stocking numerousdifferent length valve stems or stocking numerous different length,sizes and configurations of valve stem adaptors which would otherwise berequired for different sizes and combinations of valves stems andconfigurations thereof.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the valve handle adaptor ofthe present invention provides a highly flexible means for mounting astandard handle from numerous different shapes and configurations ofvalve stems, a kit which is economical to manufacture and convenient touse.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve handle adaptor kit for mounting a faucethandle of the type formed with a central boss defining an open endedspud-receiving handle pocket of a predetermined multisided internalcross sectional configuration, from selected ones of a set of faucetstems projecting different distances from respective walls and formed attheir respective free extremities with broaches having predetermineddifferent cross sectional broach configurations, said kit comprising:anelongated faucet adaptor including on one extremity, an elongated shankhaving an external multisided cross section configuration formed forcomplemental telescopical receipt in such open-ended handle pocket andformed on its opposite extremity with an open-ended adaptor sockethaving an internal multisided cross sectional configurationcorresponding with that of such handle pocket; an extender formed at oneextremity with a multisided shank, shaped to be complementally receivedwithin such handle pocket, or alternatively, within said adaptor socketor, in the further alternative, within another extender and formed atopposite ends with an axially opening multisided extender socketconfigured to correspond with such handle pocket; a set ofinterchangeable spuds formed with multisided external configurationsformed for complemental telescopical receipt in either such handlepocket, adaptor socket or extender socket, said spuds being formed withrespective open ended broach sockets, said broach sockets being formedwith respective internal cross sectional configurations correspondingwith the cross sectional configuration of the respective broaches ofsuch faucet stems; fastening means for selectively fastening such handleand a selected spud to a selected one of such broaches or, in thealternative, to fasten such handle to said shank of said adaptor andsaid adaptor and a selected spud to a selected broach or, in thealternative, to fasten said handle to said shank of said adaptor andsaid adaptor to said shank of said extender and said extender andselected spud to a selected broach whereby a spud may be selected fromsaid set of spuds having a broach socket configuration of the stem onwhich such handle is to be mounted and a combination of said adaptor andsaid extender is selected having an overall length sufficient to extenda selected faucet stem from its respective wall for mounting such faucethandle thereon.
 2. A valve handle adaptor kit as set forth in claim 1for use with stem broaches formed with threaded mounting bores andwherein:said adaptor, extenders and spuds are formed with axial boresand wherein; said fastening means including screws for receipt in saidbores.
 3. A valve handle adaptor kit as set forth in claim 1wherein:said adaptor, said extender, and said spuds are constructed ofplastic.
 4. A valve handle adaptor kit as set forth in claim 1 for usein mounting a handle formed with a spud pocket which is square in crosssection and wherein:said shank of said adaptor and said shank of saidextender are square in cross section.
 5. A valve handle adaptor kit asset forth in claim 1 for use with an escutcheon of a predeterminedlength and a faucet of the type formed with a peripheral skirtconfigured to telescope over the free extremity of said escutcheon andwherein:said adaptor is formed of sufficient length to, when employed tomount such handle from one of such stems, dispose said skirt intelescopical overlapping relationship relative to such free end of suchescutcheon.
 6. A valve handle adaptor kit for mounting a handle onselected ones of a plurality of valve stems, each formed with broachesof selected different configurations, such handle being of the typeincluding a central, axially projecting boss formed with an open-endedmultisided handle pocket and a central axial fastener-receiving boreleading to such handle pocket, said kit comprising:an elongated handleadaptor formed at one extremity with an elongated multisided male shankshaped to be complementally received in such handle pocket and formed atits opposite extremity with an axially opening multisided adaptor socketconfigured to correspond with such handle pocket, said adaptor beingfurther formed with an axial fastener-receiving bore arranged anddisposed to be aligned with such central axial fastener-receiving bore,when such adaptor is fitted in such handle pocket; an extender formed atits one extremity with a multisided extender shank shaped to becomplementally received within such handle pocket, or alternativelywithin said adapator socket or in the further alternative, withinanother extender and formed at its opposite end with an axially openingmultisided extender socket configured to correspond with such handlepocket, said extender being further formed with axial fastener-receivingbore arranged and disposed to, when said respective extender shank isreceived in such handle pocket, be disposed in alignment with suchcentral axial fastener-receiving bore; a plurality of interchangeablespuds, forming a set of spuds formed with identically shaped exteriormultisided cross sectional configurations for being complementally andselectively received in such handle pocket or, alternatively in saidadaptor socket or, in the further alternative in said extender socket,each spud being formed with respective open ended broach sockets ofselected different cross sectional configurations formed forcomplemental receipt on selected ones of said valve stem broaches, saidspuds being further formed with respective axial fastener-receivingbores arranged and disposed to, when the respective spuds are receivedin said handle pocket, be aligned with such central axialfastener-receiving bore; and a plurality of fastener screws, of varyinglength for receipt through such central axial fastener-receiving bore insaid handle boss, through a fastener-receiving bore in said adaptor, andthrough a fastener-receiving bore of said extender and through saidfastener receiving bore of said spud, to be screwed into a threaded boreof one of such broaches whereby, said spuds may be insertedinterchangeably in either such handle pocket or said adaptor socket orsaid extender socket so that such handle may be mounted directly from afirst selected valve stem broach by inserting a selected spud of saidset of spuds in such handle pocket and fitting it directly on saidselected valve stem broach or, in the alternative, said handle may bemounted in spaced relation to a second selected valve stem broach byinserting said shank of said adaptor in such handle pocket, or, in thealternative, said handle may be mounted in a spaced relation from athird valve stem broach by inserting an extender between said adaptorand said spud.
 7. A faucet handle repair kit as set forth in claim 6 foruse in mounting a handle formed with a pocket which is square in crosssection and wherein:said adaptor shank and said shank extender aresquare in cross section.
 8. A faucet handle repair kit as set forth inclaim 6 wherein :said adaptor, said extender and said spuds areconstructed of plastic.
 9. A valve handle repair kit as set forth inclaim 6 for use with an escutcheon formed with a barrel for projectingaway from the wall from which a predetermined valve stem projects toterminate in a distal end spaced a predetermined distance from such walland with a handle of the type formed with a peripheral skirt configuredto telescope over the free extremity of such barrel and wherein:acombination of said adaptor and said extender being of sufficient lengthto, when mounting such handle from such predetermined valve stem, withsuch escutcheon mounted on such wall, dispose such skirt intelescopically overlapping relationship with such extremity of suchbarrel.
 10. A valve handle repair kit as set forth in claim 7wherein:said spuds are square in external cross section.